LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - The Michigan Daily - 5 MSAs staggering journey toward irrelevance ZAC PESKOWITZ THE LOWER FREQUENCIES p Pro-Israel shirts exacerbate divisions in 'U community TO THE DAILY: I have long felt that public sentiments concerning the issue of Mid-East violence on this cam- pus have been extremely polar- ized. Given that we are students of a University that draws from both large American Jewish and American Muslim communities, this is not surprising. Nonetheless, I cannot help but feel as though the public gesture of the "We Stand With Israel" t- shirt does more to polarize this already uneasy situation than it does to open up the venues avail- able to us for productive dialogue and action. I believe that if the organizers true commitment were to peace and understanding, they would not have gone so far out of their way to promote exactly the kind of blind nationalism that has allowed terrorist leaders such as Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat to dominate the fate of land that belongs only partially to their ,people. a I would have expected much more from a community that has so openly committed itself to the tenets of ethnic diversity. Were the organizers to reconsider their actions I imagine that they would find that all they have done is fur- ther deepened the already enor- mous rift that exists between Jewish and Palestinian students on this campus. ANTHONY ROSENTHAL LSA freshman SCI for more than "hippies" and the "heavily drugged" TO THE DAILY: I am writing in response to Brette Billow's review "Hip String Cheese Incident rocks . Hill," (4/17/02). First of all, I feel that Billow focused on the audience at the concert instead of the music, what a review of a concert should really be about. Billow basically implied that in order to have enjoyed String Cheese Incident's concert, one had to be high and a "hippie." I definitely disagree, as I doubt Billow would consider me a "hippie." While I may exhibit some "hippie" characteristics, I have never done any illegal drugs and I don't have dreadlocks. This was also my first incident so I know the String Cheese Incident's music, but have not been a fan for very long. Despite the fact that I wasn't 'heavily drugged," I greatly enjoyed the String Cheese Incident concert and feel that Billow did not give them due credit. Personally, I felt that the second set was much better than the first, with the sweet falsetto harmonies of the reggae influ- enced song, "Shakin' the Tree" and a great live version of "Up the Canyon." I was very sur- prised that Billow did not men- tion the incredible encore of "How Sweet it Is," which I believe surpassed the version done by the Jerry Garcia Band (though it is hard to compare live music and recordings). I also feel that Billow did a disservice to String Cheese Incident's latest album, "Outside and Inside." While I agree that String Cheese Incident is best live, "Outside and Inside" both does an excellent job of capturing the feeling of a jam session, while it also has the ability to be sung along to and is packaged into eleven great tracks. So for those who may have been put off of String Cheese Incident by Billow's review, I can attest to the fact that String Cheese Incident can be enjoyed by more than the "heavily drugged" and those he labels as "hippies." EMILY HILLIARD LSA freshman Honest evaluations needed in Middle East debate TO THE DAILY: Although, as usual, I find much with which to disagree in Amer G. Zahr's column, "Honesty in the Question of Palestine," (4/15/02), his honest criticism of the Palestinian leadership is wel- come and deserves to be answered with honesty by sup- porters of Israel. While Israel's moral legitima- cy and right to self-defense are unassailable, support for Israel should never translate into unquestioning support for every policy of whatever government wields a majority in the Knesset. Zahr writes eloquently about the harm the occupation has done to the Palestinians. As a Zionist, I would add that the occupation undermines Israelis' physical security, jeopardizes Israel's political security, and - tragical- ly - threatens the Jewish peo- ple's moral security. American Jews and all friends of Israel should support the cur- rent U.S. peace effort, the ulti- mate goal of which should be an end to the occupation, indepen- dence and freedom for Palestinians, security and recog- nition for Israel. JOSHUA BROOK Law school The Naked Mile was a debacle. The thousands of University students who eagerly lined South University in anticipation for some- thing were extremely disappointed. A few members of Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality set an example by stripping down to their briefs and hoped the crowd would follow suit. At most 50 students and ran- dom hangers-on participated. It was an unimpressive display. Unlike previous years the Mile came and went with little advance preparation from the Michigan Student Assembly. Last year, Women's Issues Committee Chair Elizabeth Anderson printed "Naked Mile Security" T-shirts and MSA organized a phalanx of student volunteers to prevent groping and sexual assault. While their efforts proved to be relatively ineffective when confronted with the crackdown of local police agencies, MSA's willingness to strongly oppose the University contin- ued in the vibrant tradition of activism that was once inculcated in MSA. This year, lack of interest and apathy dominated MSA's decision-making process. MSA simply let the Mile end' with a whimper. There was no concerted effort to challenge the University's stance. This malaise is not a recent development. With the notable exception of last year's approach to the Naked Mile, MSA has rapidly moved away from the political dar- ing and activism that once defined and motivated MSA. In November of 1990, the University erupted in protest and civil disobedience when the Board of Regents gave DPS offi- cers the authority to carry firearms. While students occupied the Fleming Adminis- tration Building, then-MSA President Jen- nifer Van Valey stood in support and voiced her opposition from Fleming. "As of 9:30 tonight, there is a state of activism declared on campus," she shouted in sup- port of a simultaneous sit-in on the lawn of the President's House. Her presence and support gave the demonstrators an authori- ty and importance that only a popularly elected campus leader can provide. This tradition of activism continued into the '90s with MSA's refusal to pas- sively accept former University President James Duderstadt's challenges to students free speech. A 1993 ban that prevented students from rallying on the Diag during Martin Luther King Day and prohibited chalking led to a rally where former MSA President Ede Fox denounced the restric- tions, "It's a tradition that a lot of people really care about, being able to come here and stand on the steps of the Grad library and hold a rally." In 1995 MSA President Flint Wainness secured a position for a student on the committee that authored the Student Code of Conduct. These MSA presidents acted boldly although they risked alienating student support for their parties and drew acrid criticism from both students and University administrators. Now MSA is content to put on a sympo- sium and pass half-hearted, meaningless resolutions. Political concerns and the pos- sibility of re-election have prevented the expression of MSA's conscience. Executives now serve as mediators. While this role is important, MSA can bet- ter serve the University community through representatives proactively dis- cussing issues. Representatives who serve as flashpoints for issues, criticism and con- troversy will reinvigorate a campus strug- gling with the throes of indifference. MSA is vested with the authority to represent the University's students. It is the best means for student concerns to be addressed and taken to the administration. MSA needs to reevaluate its direction and this process must begin with individual representatives who are dissatisfied with MSA's entrenched status quo. While the future of the Naked Mile is not the most signficant matter at the Uni- versity, there are pressing concerns that will benefit from an infusion of MSA debate and active involvement. If MSA representatives and executives assert themselves, the discussion concerning the termination of New Era Cap Compa- ny's contract with the University will be more robust and fruitful. These issues shouldn't be constrained to the domain of narrowly focused student groups, but should concern every member of the University. Zac Peskowisz can be reached at zpeslrowi@umich.edu. U.S. taking one for the Global Peace Team LUKE SMITH CRIS IN THE HoLYLAND T he game of hokey pokey that the United States has been playing with Israel should come to an end. Israel's insistence of putting their right foot in the West Bank and taking it out when we release an ominous Darth Vader breath results in lit- tle more than us and the rest of the world shaking our heads all about. Sure, the people of Israel won a war (and winning wars means entitlement of land and property - it's the American way) and in this day and age, theoretically the land should be Israel's soil - but such is not the case. Conflict was constant; there was no solu- tion in sight. Until now. Often criticized for meddling in other nations' affairs, the time has come for the United States to make a sacrifice for peace in the Middle East. We will give our lifeblood, pulsing with platelets trying to fill a wound that only our sacrifice can heal. We will give up the Dakotas. Yes, we will give up both of them. We will exercise the inexplicable power that is the United States' will, and flex our muscle to mobilize the nation of Israel and move it to North and South Dakota. - Initially problematic in this modern exodus is where will the people of the Dakotas go. Undoubtedly, families are root- ed deeply in the Dakotas and in the rich his- tory that comes with being from these magnanimous two states. First, the United States will launch its crack team of civil engineers into the counties of the Dakotas, drawing county lines and gathering intense amounts of data about the residents and their relatives. Then, using these carefully mapped counties they will analyze the remaining 48 U.S. states find places to move the respective counties to. Oh yes, we will be moving counties. The county-moving operation will serve as a fantastic introduction to the eventual task of nation-moving. These new counties will be drawn into other counties, moving county lines and displacing other people all in the name of Peace in the Middle East. This nationwide displacement will show us as the selfless human beings that we are. Further, it will involve the nation as a whole rather than the residents of the Dakotas. To make up for our stark removal of the fine people of North and South Dakota, we will award them reparations. Wonderful reparations will be awarded to the Dakotans for their sacrifice - we will let them own casinos. It worked lasttime. After we've cured the problems in the homeland, we will be fully prepared to move the people of Israel into their new home, nes- tled softly in the bosom of plane states. I've heard especially wonderful things about the people of Montana; they will probably have a large fruit basket waiting for Israel when she completes her move. Iowans are general- ly very nice as well. Should Israel not find this to be a good idea, we will present a few key arguments that will undoubtedly change their collective mind. The combined square mileage of North and South Dakota is 144,861 square miles, Israel only has 10,840 square miles of land to call its own. It is about the size of Maryland, but when is the last time a mem- ber of the Terrapin state has gone to the local Meijer and blown themselves to holy hell? Not in the last 10 years, at least. There will be 13.3 times more land in "New Israel," as the country will be called, than in their previ- ous home, buried in the middle-eastern field of hate where the enemies of Israel stand guard around the nation's border. If the giant increase in landmass, for her delightful population isn't enough, we do have other options to lure Israel into the magical kingdom formerly known as the Dakotas. We can build them a better temple than the one they are rebuilding. We will use our masterful, unionized con- struction workers to erect a super temple. It will be fully furnished and will have digital cable, or satellite - whichever Israel deems best. In case the offer of our incredible technical know-how isn't enough, we will also protect their holy temple via our own Star Wars missile defense plan, turning the temple of God into a fortress on par with Cobra's Terror Drome. We will fly the people of Israel to the United States on planes outfitted first class top to bottom and we will fly them to New Israel alphabetically, so we can be completely fair and not play favorites. It is an offer that the United States can make, you can be a part of and Israel can- not turn down. It is just too damn good. LukeSmith can be reached at lukems@umich.edu.